rssConservatives React to Obama-House GOP ‘Question Time’
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 2:15 pm
- 9 Comments
Well, that was more interesting than anyone could have reasonably expected it to be. The sense I’m getting from conservatives and GOP strategists is that the discussion between President Obama and House Republicans in Baltimore was a boon for the president — maybe unfairly so, because the format made even things Republicans mock about Obama (pinning some early problems on the Bush administration) seem forceful.
Reaction from Weekly Standard editor and Fox News pundit Mary Katherine Ham:
Debatable how much this back-&-forth actually achieves, but it *looks* like change/openness. Had O tried it earlier, woulda done him good.
Former Weekly Standard blogger/McCain campaign blogger Michael Goldfarb:
Obama did well, got the better of GOP today. Fortunately, we got the better of him the last six months or so. And health care is dead.
American Spectator blogger Quin Hillyer:
What an arrogant SOB. He repeatedly accuses House Republicans of lowering the tone of debate, and denies that his side has done ANY politicizing or any insults, etc. This is just outrageous. His tone was utterly inappropriate, his body language even worse. That was not a polite give-and-take (although Republicans were certainly polite); it was a stern, rhetoric-filled, in-your-face lecture.
National Review’s Daniel Foster:
[I]t would be hard to argue the exchange is anything but a plus-plus for Obama and the GOP. Both sides emerged from it looking as if, contra the public’s greatest fears, they more or less know what they are talking about on issues like the deficit and health-care reform. The president avoided the temptation to speak in platitudes and sound bytes, and the Republicans went a long way toward showing that they are hardly a party of obstructionists with no solutions to offer Americans.
Perhaps the most telling aspect of the speech reactions — Fox News, alone among cable networks, cut away mid-broadcast and went to a newsless interview with Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.).
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9 Comments
Comment posted January 29, 2010 @ 6:35 pm
[T]he Republicans went a long way toward showing that they are hardly a party of obstructionists with no solutions to offer Americans.
Really? In just one morning meeting with the President, as opposed to the unprecedented obstruction of the last year?
Comment posted January 29, 2010 @ 8:20 pm
Ugly of Obama to have engaged in a battle of wits with unarmed opponents…
Pingback posted January 29, 2010 @ 10:52 pm
[...] the only news corp to do it. "Perhaps the most telling aspect of the speech reactions," writes David Weigel at the Washington Independent, is that "Fox News, alone among cable networks, cut away [...]
Comment posted January 30, 2010 @ 1:54 am
One hundred and forty to one. Pretty even odds, wouldn't you say?
After reading the latest blogs, they're withdrawing the “purity test”, and courting the baggers….Looking to show that they aren't extremist, just to welcome extremists to their ranks. Poor, misguided Republicans.
Comment posted January 30, 2010 @ 3:02 am
When you set yourselves like nails, shouldn't invite a hammer…..
Pingback posted January 30, 2010 @ 1:22 pm
[...] it, the GOP has Fox News to state their case, and Obama doesn’t,” said Hannity. “In the end, that’s what real Americans [...]
Trackback posted January 30, 2010 @ 6:11 pm
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Comment posted January 30, 2010 @ 7:31 pm
I agree with Monkey. If you ask for it, and get your but smacked by a guy who can simply outwit you, then you got to take your medicine. I think it's clear that Obama doesn't want to simply tune out the GOP, but it shows that he is willing to come to the lions den and explain himself without any backup or teleprompter in addition to the fact that he DOES read their proposals. Pretty ballsy on his part, and I'm pretty sure he could do it again and again…
Comment posted January 31, 2010 @ 12:31 am
I agree with Monkey. If you ask for it, and get your but smacked by a guy who can simply outwit you, then you got to take your medicine. I think it's clear that Obama doesn't want to simply tune out the GOP, but it shows that he is willing to come to the lions den and explain himself without any backup or teleprompter in addition to the fact that he DOES read their proposals. Pretty ballsy on his part, and I'm pretty sure he could do it again and again…
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